Responding to the Global Refugee Crisis at 51茶馆 and Beyond
Date: November 13-16,听2017
The Refugee Project is听a collaboration with colleagues at听Harvard Divinity School, the听American Academy of Religion, and听Shared Studios听(with funding from the听Henry Luce Foundation), in the Boston area November 4-20, 2017.听
Abstract
The world is currently facing the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, with 65 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide, including 23 million refugees.听How will we respond?听
Although education about facts and figures is important, there is no substitute for a personal encounter to humanize a distant other, and thus reframe our understanding of a global crisis. At Boston College, The Refugee Project will take three forms:听
1)听Dinner and Community Conversation
顿补迟别:听Monday, November 13, 2017
尝辞肠补迟颈辞苍:听Gasson Commons (Room 112)听
Time:听6:00 - 8:00pm听
Join us for food and refreshments, listen to the stories of refugees who have resettled in the Boston area, and hear short talks from 51茶馆 experts about how we at 51茶馆 can respond to the global refugee crisis. 51茶馆 speakers will include professors Westy Egmont, Kristin Heyer, and Erik Owens.
Co-sponsored by the Office of International Programs, and part of听International Education Week 2017.听
2) Refugee Portal
顿补迟别:听Monday, Nov. 13 - Thursday Nov. 16, 2017
Times:听8:00am - 12:00pm
[By appointment only]
尝辞肠补迟颈辞苍:听That big gold shipping container in O'Neill Plaza听
The Refugee Portal is the centerpiece of The Refugee Project at 51茶馆.听Shared Studios听has transformed a shipping container into a studio with a wall-sized videoconferencing screen that connects to other "portals" worldwide to create uncommon conversational/educational opportunities. For four hours each morning from Nov 13-16 we will host a series of 25-minute conversations between small groups of 3-6 51茶馆 people and small groups of Syrian and Iraqi refugees/IDPs in Iraq, Jordan, and Berlin. Conversations will center on music, sports, family, and culture, as well as the particular migration experiences of people on both ends of the portal.
3)听Educational Exhibit and Online Modules听
Dates:听Monday, Nov. 13 - Thursday Nov. 16, 2017
尝辞肠补迟颈辞苍:听O'Neill Library Main Lobby听
Stop by the main lobby of O'Neill Library this week to听peer into the street life at the Harsham Camp outside Erbil, Iraq, thanks to immersive video from National Geographic; or听read the migration stories of refugees around the world; or dig into the facts and figures that show the extent of the global migration crisis.听听
In the News
51茶馆 News featured the Boisi Center's 2017 Refugee Portal in听a recent article听and accompanying "video minute."
As part of the week long Refugee Portal, O'Neill Library听听displaying the stories and outlining the journeys of refugees of various backgrounds.
The听听during the week of November 5, 2017. HDS students connected with Gazans as well as refugee camps in Erbil, Iraq; Amman, Jordan and Berlin, Germany. The portal will arrive at 51茶馆 on Friday, November 10, in anticipation of programming starting November 13, 2017.